Device for ejection of bowling balls



July 17, 1962 P. J. RUSSO DEVICE FOR EJECTION OF BOWLING BALLS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 11, 1958 Philip J. Russo INVENTOR.

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July 17, 1962 P. J. RUSSO DEVICE FOR EJECTION OF BOWLING BALLS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 11, 1958 m m m m m 0E ww U R E J P Y B H H U U H U H U United States Patent 3,044,775 DEVICE FOR EJECTION F BOWLING BALLS Philip J. Russo, 1401 Boulevard, New Haven, Conn. Filed Sept. 11, 1958, Ser. No. 760,432 28 Claims. (Cl. 273-43) This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in automatic pin setters and more specifically to a device for selectively ejecting bowling balls and bowling pins from an automatic pin setter elevator.

At the present time there is in widespread use an automatic pin setter commonly referred to in the trade as the Sherman Automatic Pin Setter. This machine is a very efiicient and highly desirable machine. However, like all machines which are extremely complicated, it has certain deficiencies. These deficiencies include the mechanism for automatically ejecting balls from an elevator which elevates both balls and pins. The present bowling ball ejector is subject to breakage thus resulting in both the shut-down of the machine and the expense of repairs.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide an improved ejecting mechanism for use in conjunction with the elevator of an automatic pin setter wherein the elevator is of the type having a plurality of vertically moving pairs of horizontally spaced supports,

the ejecting mechanism being extremely simple and of such a nature that it is not subject to breakage.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved ball ejecting mechanism for ejecting balls from an elevator for both bowling balls and bowling pins, the ball ejecting mechanism being of sucha nature that it will selectively engage only the bowling balls and eject the bowling balls into a return chute while permitting the pins to be further elevated by the elevator to a pin magazine.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved ejector for bowling pins and bowling balls, the ejector being :of the type to beused in conjunction with an elevator which has vertically movable pairs of supports, the ejector being so constructed that it is engaged by the supports and actuated thereby, the ejector including a finger for engaging either the bowling ball or bowling pin and the finger being so related to the remainder of the ejector that the finger is accelerating at the time it strikes either a bowling pin or bowling ball, to effectively eject the same.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved ejecting mechanism for use with an elevator of an automatic pin setter, the ejecting mechanism including a ball ejecting member, latch means for normally holding the ball ejecting member in an inoperative position, and release means for the latch means, the release means being actuated only by a bowling ball so that the ball ejecting member ejects only the bowling balls from the elevator and permits bowling pins to pass thereby.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic view showing details of the elevator with which the present invention is associated, the relationship of the pick up of the elevator, the ball return chute and the pin magazine being shown;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical 'sectional view taken through the upper portion of the e1evator with the ejecting mechanism which is the subject of this invention being illustrated was attached thereto;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by section line 33 of FIGURE 2 and shows further the relationship of the ejecting mechanism with respect to the elevator; I

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view similar to FIGURE 2 and shows both a bowling ball and a bowling pin in the process of being ejected;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the ball ejecting member;

FIGURE 6 is a schematic view showing the ball ejecting member being initially engaged by a support of the elevator;

FIGURE 7 is a schematic view similar to FIGURE 6 and shows the initial engagement of the ball ejecting memher with a bowling ball; and

FIGURE 8 is a further schematic view showing the bowling ball as it is being moved off of the support by the ball ejecting member.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated in FIGURE 1 an elevator system of the type used in the Sherman Automatic Pin Setter, the elevator assembly being referred to in general by the 7 reference numeral 10. The elevator assembly 10 includes two pairs of endless chains 12, see FIGURE 3. Extending between the endless chains 12 of each pair of endless chains are supports 14. The supports 14 are horizontally disposed and the chains 12 are moved simultaneously whereby the supports 14 are arranged in pairs.

The chains 12 extend upwardly from a floor 16, see FIGURE 1, on which bowling pins and bowling balls will rest. As the supports 14 swing around the lower paths of the travel thereof they will engage either abowling ball or a bowling pin therebetween and begin to elevate the same.

Disposed adjacent the upper end of the path of travel sary that the elevator mechanism 10 include an ejecting mechanism which is .of such a nature that it Will automatically eject bowling balls from the supports 14 into the ball return chute 20 and will not eject bowling pins. The bowling pins will travel upwardly above the ball return chute 20 and will be ejected into the magazine 18. Referring now to FIGURE 3 in particular, it will be seen that the supports 14 have associated therewith suitable combination guides and guards 22 which are in the form of upright plate members, The combination guides and guards 22 are disposed in a rectangular pattern.

The automatic pin setter also includes a supporting frame of which horizontally disposed frame members 24 and 26, illustrated in FIGURE 2, are a part. In addition to these, the ordinary pin setter includes a conveyor 28 for moving the bowling pins into the pin magazine 18. Carried by two of the combination guides and guards 22 and by the frame members 24 and 26 is an ejecting mechanism which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 30. The ejecting mechanism includes a ball ejecting mechanism 32 and a pin ejecting mechanism 34. Inasmuch as the pin ejecting mechanism 34 is the simplest, it will be described in detail first.

The pin ejecting mechanism 34 includes a pair of bearing blocks 36 which are carried by two of the members 22. The bearing blocks 36 have extending therebetween a shaft 38. Rotatably journalled on the shaft 38 is a pin ejecting member 40. The pin ejecting member 40 is in the form of a plate 42 having one edge thereof rolled to forma sleeve 44 journalled on the shaft 38. The opposite edge of the plate 42 is devised to form a pair of straight outer fingers 46 and an angulated central finger 48. The outer fingers 46 are shorter than the central finger 48 and will be considered actuating fingers. The centrally located finger 48 is a pin ejecting finger.

Extending vertically between the frame members 24 and 26 is a bar 50 with a stop 52 thereon. Disposed 3 above the stop 52 is a further stop 54. The stops 52 and 54 cooperate with the pin ejecting member 40 to position the latter for engagement with a pin, such as the bowling pin 56.

The pin ejecting member 40 is so mounted that the pin ejecting finger 48 thereof engages the stop 52 with the fingers 46 disposed in the path of the vertically moving supports 14. The pin ejecting member 40 is retained in this position by gravity and as a pair of supports 14 move vertically bearing therebetween and thereon a bowling pin 56, the actuating fingers 46 are engaged by the support 14 with the result that the pin ejecting member 40 is swung in a clockwise direction. As the pin ejecting member 40 rotates, the pin ejecting finger 48 engages the bowling pin 56 and urges it to the left onto the conveyor 28 for movement into the pin magazine 18. It i to be understood that the relation of the fingers 46 and 48 is such that the pin ejecting finger 48 is rapidly accelerated and it engages the bowling pin and that this acceleration increases so that the bowling pin 56 is rapidly shoved off of the supports 14.

After the bowling'pin 56 has been shoved off of the supports 14, continuing upward travel of the latter will cause the pin ejecting member 40 to continue to rotate in a clockwise direction. It will then strike the stop 54 and will bounce backwards in a counterclockwise direction beyond its top dead center position so that it will then swing in a counterclockwise direction back to its original position of FIGURE 2. The pin ejecting position of the pin ejecting member 40 is best shown in FIGURE 4.

Mounted on the same members 22 as are the bearing blocks 36 are additional bearing blocks 58. The bearing blocks 58 are parts of the bowling ball ejecting mechanism 32 and are disposed below the bearing blocks 36. Extending between the bearing blocks 58 is a shaft 60. Rotatably journalled on the shaft 60 is a bowling ball ejecting member which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 62.

Referring now to FIGURE in particular, it will be seen that the ball ejecting member 62 is formed of a plate 64 which ha one edge thereof rolled to form a sleeve 66. The plate 64 has the opposite edge thereof configurated by the pair of spaced apart straight fingers 68 and a centrally located angulated finger 70. The fingers 68 will be considered actuating fingers and the central finger 70 will be considered a ball ejecting finger. It is to be noted that the ball ejecting finger is disposed out of the plane of the plate 64 and will lag behind the actuating fingers 68. The ball ejecting member 62 is rotatably journaled upon the shaft 60 by the shaft 60 being passed through the sleeve portion 66.

Inasmuch as it is only desired that the ball ejecting member 62 eject balls, it is necessary that the ball ejecting member 62 normally be retained in an inoperative position. Accordingly, there is provided a latch mechanism which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 72. The latch mechanism 72 includes a pair of vertically aligned guides 74 and 76 which are secured to the bar 50. Extending vertically through the guides 74 and 76 is a rod 78 of a latch member 80. The latch member 80 includes a latch element 82 which engages the underside of the ball ejecting finger 70. The rod 78 ha mounted intermediate the guides 74 and 76 a coil spring 34, whose lower end engages the guide 76. The upper end of the coil spring 34 engages a pin 36 carried by the rod 78 so as to constantly urge the rod 78 into the position illustrated in FIGURE 2 where it retains the ball ejecting member 62 in the inoperative position. The lower end of the rod 78 is provided with a stop member 88.

The ball ejecting mechanism 32 also includes release means which are referred to in general by the reference numeral 90. The release means 90 includes a bell crank 92 which is formed from a sheet and which has a first leg 94 and a second leg 96 disposed at right angles to 4 each other, the leg 94 being longer than the leg 96 and the two legs being braced by a brace portion 98.

Secured to the members 22 in spaced relation by means of spacers 100 are bearing blocks 102. Rotatably journalled in the bearing blocks 102 is a shaft 104 which is welded to the bell crank 92 at the intersection of the legs 94 and 96.

The leg 96 is bifurcated and straddles the lower end of the rod '78 immediately above the stop 88. The leg 94 projects upwardly and inwardly from the shaft 104 so that the upper end thereof lies within the path of a bowling ball, such as the bowling ball 106 which i to be ejected. At this time it is pointed out that the bowling ball 106 is of a greater diameter than the bowling pin 56. Thus, the leg 94 may be positioned for engagement by the bowling ball 166, but in the position where it will clear the bowling pin 56. In order to assure engagement of the bowling ball 166 with the bell crank 92, there is provided a cam member 108 which is engaged by the bowling ball 106 and which urges the bowling ball 106 towards the bell crank 92.

When the bowling ball, such as the bowling ball 106 is elevated by the supports 14, the bowling ball 106 is urged into engagement with the bell crank 944 by the cam 108. This results in the clockwise rotation of the bell crank 92. The leg 96 then pulls the rod 78 down so as to release the ball ejecting member 62. The ball ejecting member 62 then swings in a clockwise direction by gravity so that the actuating fingers 68 are in alignment with the supports 14. As the supports 14 and the ball 106 continue up wardly, the supports 14 engage the actuating fingers 68 to swing the ball ejecting member 62 in a clockwise direction. As the ball ejecting member 62 continues to rotate, the ball ejecting member finger 70 engages the ball 106 and urges it to the left into the ball return chute 20. The sequence of the ball ejecting steps are best shown in FIGURES 6, 7 and 8. It is to be noted that immediately upon engagement of the ball 106 by the ball ejecting finger 70, the ball ejecting finger 70 rapidly accelerate so as to exert a relative great force on the bowling ball 106 and to force it into the ball return chute 20. It will be understood that this is accomplished because of the relationship of the actuating fingers 68 and the ball ejecting finger 70. It is to be noted that at the time the ball ejecting finger 70 is in the ball ejecting position, the supports 14 engage the actuating finger 68 close to the axis of rotation therefor and thus there is a rapid angular movement of the ball ejecting member 62.

After the ball ejecting member 62 has ejected the ball 106, it continues to swing in a clockwise direction and comes to rest in the position illustrated in FIGURE 2, the release means having returned to its original position after passage of the ball 106. Thus the ball ejecting mechanism 32 is ready to eject the next ball which may follow on the next pair of supports 14.

From the foregoing description of the ejecting mechanism of this application, it will be readily apparent that it is composed of a few extremely simple parts which have no parts subject to breakage and thus is fully reliable. In addition to the simplicity and reliability of the ejecting mechanism, it will be readily apparent that it is of a nature whereby it may be readily mounted on existing automatic pin setters with a minimum of effort and alteration. This, of course, is highly desirable so that it may be used both on existing automatic pin setters and on new installations.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

port frame, vertically spaced pairs of horizontally spaced 4 supports on said elevating means for supporting there'- on and therebetween bowling balls or bowling pins,.vertically spaced ball and pin stations at which balls and pins are to be respectively ejected from said elevating means, a bowling ball ejector including a ball ejecting member, mounting means secured to said support frame and mounting said ball ejecting member in proximity to the path of vertical travel of said supports for'movement towards and from said supports and a bowling ball carried thereby for engaging and ejecting said ball from said supports and to said ball receiving station, actuating means engageable and operable by said pairs of supports for ball ejecting movement of said member as said supports move past said member, said ejecting member actuating means being disposed for norm-a1 positioning in the path of movement of said supports for actuation thereby, retaining means normally retaining said actuating means out of said path of movement, release means operable in response to the passage of a bowling ball by said ejecting member but not operable by the passage of a bowling pin for rendering said retaining means ineffective to retain said actuating means out of the path of movement of said supports.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said actuating means is integral with said ejecting member.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said actuating means includes a portion directly engageable by the top surface of a support of each pair of supports for tilting movement thereby.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said ejecting member includes a ball ejecting finger positioned for upward swinging movement between the supports of said pairs of supports.

5. In a bowling ball and pin elevator, a support frame, vertically moving elevating mean-s mounted on said support frame, vertically spaced pairs of horizontally spaced supports on said elevating means for supporting thereon and therebetween bowling balls or bowling pins, vertically spaced ball and pin stations at which balls and pins are to be respectively ejected from said elevating means, a bowling ball ejector including a ball ejecting member, mounting means secured to said support frame and mounting said ball ejecting member in proximity to the path of vertical travel of said supports for movement towards and from said supports and a bowling ball carried thereby for engaging and ejecting said ball from said supports and to said ball receiving station, said ejecting member including actuating means comprising at least one actuating finger normally positioned in the path of movement of and engageable and movable by one support of said pairs of supports, said ejecting member actuating means being disposed for normal positioning in the path of movement of said supports for actuation thereby, retaining means normally retaining said actuating means out of said path of movement, release means operable in response to the passage of a bowling ball by said ejecting member but not operable by the passage of a bowling pin for rendering said retaining means ineffective to retain said actuating means out of the path of movement of said supports.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said ejecting member further includes a ball ejecting finger disposed for movement between said horizontally spaced supports of a pair of supports as said pair moves past said member.

7. The combination of claim 5 wherein said actuating means comprises a pair of actuating fingers, engageable and movable by the respective supports of said pairs of supports.

8. The combination of claim 5 wherein said ejecting member further includes a ball ejecting finger disposed for movement between said horizontally spaced supports 6 of a pair of supports as said pair moves past said memher, said actuating and ejecting fingers being fixedly connected in angulated relation whereby said actuating finger will be engaged and moved by a support prior to engagement of said ejecting finger with a bowling ball.

9. The combination of claim :5 wherein said mounting means pivotally supports said ejecting member.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said actuating means comprises a pair of actuating fingers, engageable and movable by the respective supports of said pairs of supports.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein said ejecting member further includes a ball ejecting finger disposed for movement between said horizontally spaced supports of a pair of supports as said pair moves past said member.

12. The combination of claim 11, said actuating and ejecting fingers being fixedly connected in angulated relation whereby said actuating fingers will be engaged and moved by a support prior to engagement of said ejecting finger with a bowling ball.

13. The combination of claim 1 wherein said release means includes an actuator positioned for engagement and movement by a ball but not by a pin during passage of a ball or pin thereby.

14. The combintion of claim 13 wherein said actuator comprises a pivotally mounted lever connected to said retaining means.

15. The combination of claim 1 wherein said ejecting member includes a portion engaged by said retaining means. I

16. The combination of claim 5 wherein said release means includes an actuator positioned for engagement and and movement by a ball but not by a pin during passage of a ball or pin thereby.

17. The combination of claim 16 wherein said actuator comprises a pivotally mounted lever connected to said retaining means.

18. The combination of claim 17 wherein said ejecting member includes a portion engaged by said latch means.

19. The combination of claim 5 wherein said actuating finger is positioned for causing said finger to travel along a surface of said support and effect accelerated movement of said ejecting member.

20. The combination of claim 5 wherein said ejecting member is pivotally mounted, said actuating finger being engaged by said supports with a point of contact which slides along said finger towards the pivot thereof whereby to impart accelerated swinging motion to said ejecting member during its ejecting stroke.

21. The combination of claim 1 wherein said retaining means includes a slida'bly mounted rod-like member having a projection disposable into the path of movement ofsaid ejecting member for preventing movement of the latter into the path of movement of said supports.

22. The combination of claim 21 including means yieldingly urging said projection into said path of movement of said ejecting member.

23. The combination of claim 22 wherein said release means includes a ball sensing member and means operably connecting the latter to said rod-like member.

24. The combination of claim 23 wherein said ball sensing member is movably mounted and positioned for engagement and movement by a bowling ball when carried by said supports but not by a bowling pin.

25. The combination of claim 24 wherein said ball sensing member comprises a pivoted lever.

26. The combination of claim 1 wherein said ball ejecting member and said release means are spaced from each other in the direction of travel of said supports for effecting successive passage of a ball or pin past said release means and said ejecting member.

27. The combination of claim 1 wherein said retaining means includes a slidably mounted rod-like member References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Olson Nov. 19, Parr-a et a1. Feb. 8, Parry May 31, Anderson Aug. 2, Troiano Sept. 1, Sherman Jan. 12, 

